The Sentinels my mind was called across the years, of rages and of strife

ears raise! just putting this at the 21st

the strangest thing had occurred that day. her awareness of it was for all of ten minutes, and here was the first:

a sudden sound, sharp and crisp, caused her moro reflex to flare; each limb stretched and stiffened as she surrendered herself to her mother or her father, who pulled her toward them to soothe her. they spoke to her, and she listened, fascinated, by the clarity of sound now. her ears no longer folded over, but had, overnight it seemed, risen to their future erect state. they were small, and still proportionate to her small head, but in the passing days—unbeknownst to her—they would grow longer, and be prone to folding over. but with the present proportion, there was no muffled sound to contend with. in ten minutes, she would forget there ever was a time of muffled sounds, but for now a look of intense concentration was upon her mien, just as the second minute came. and as those ten minutes came and went, deirdre did forget, but was quiet for the whole of the day, as hearing seemed suddenly even more important.